Interview or not

[rosenylund]

Posting for traffic, as also in employment but quiet there...

I'm in a quandary; I have an interview for a job next week I never thought I would get an interview for.

I've applied for a number of jobs in a mild panic as I know my role ends in December in current job. It's a completely different role, one I haven't done for a few years.

I am literally terror struck at the interview process, as it's one where they give you a topic on the day and some time to prepare a presentation. I've done pre-prepped powerpoints in other job interviews which were bad enough!

I'm debating dropping out as I just don't think I can do it, I don't think I will able to do the job and I feel I won't fit back into a corporate environment when I've been out of one for a good while. I've been advised to go for the experience and all that , but I also feel I'll be depriving someone else of an interview.

The bad thing is it would also mean dropping out on the morning of actual interview as it's Monday.

If it was just a sit down interview I'd go, but now I feel like my fears around the presentation really point to me not being able to do the actual job itself. Hence me being on MN and not revising...

Any thoughts?

What exactly are your fears about the presentation?
That you won't get enough time to prepare?
That hyour mins will go blank?
Or is it the actual presenting? Getting questioned?

I think all of your points! I have a terrible sense of being an imposter. The role normally would have someone with formal qualifications, I learned on the job instead and so am 'self taught' as it were. I think this will bring me down as well.

Go and do your best. When you look back you won't regret trying even if it is awful (I've had awful interviews and learnt from them). You will regret not even giving yourself a chance.

Definitely go and use it for the experience - it's good to do something a bit outside your comfort zone, especially if you don't really want the job you've got nothing to lose. Treat it like a training course if it helps you feel less nervous? You're not taking up someone else's interview place, they'd be incredibly unlikely to invite an additional candidate if you pull out at this point.

The only way to know how to deal with these type of interviews to go to as many as you can, practice makes perfect!

You won't have enough time to do the presentation justice. They know that. Everyone is in the same boat.
As for the other things, push yourself outside your comfort zone. What's the worst that can happen?

I absolutely am talking myself out it, done no prep today and went to bed.

I hate being like this, loads of stress in work and all the other at home shite. I literally hate myself. Plus I’m enormously fat currently so when I say I won’t fit I mean literally and figuratively !

I had a good job as a manager, caused uproar blowing the whistle on lots of things, resigned due to the stress and then went into another job with much less responsibility. I’ve lost all confidence pretty much. I was offered a management role in current job and turned it down.

Argh I can understand that :( sounds like you need a life coach.

Life coach isn’t my thing although ironically my current work place has an excellent mentoring program, which I’ve held off applying for in case I’m made redundant rather than posted in another role.

I do see a counsellor who has really helped, and we talked a lot about the interview recently.

If you cancel you'll just reinforce your view that you "can't" do it, then next time something challenging like this comes up you'll feel even worse.

If you talk kindly and encouragingly to yourself to keep your nerves in check, and actually give it a shot you might find out you do better than you're catastrophising right now. And at least you'll have taught yourself that you can survive trying!

You feel anxious because of all those negative thoughts swirling in your head and feeding each other.

There's no reason you can't do a presentation on the day - they won't expect the same standard as one done in advance.

There's also no reason you can't adjust to that environment if you got the job.

And they wouldn't be interested in meeting you for interview if they didn't think you could do the job!

You'll feel guilty and deflated and I expect beat yourself up some more if you cancel. It won't get rid of these horrible feelings - but going probably will.

I would bet money that if you cancel this one the next time you're facing an interview your anxiety will be even worse and you'll be even more convinced by all these negative thoughts. Challenge them with fairer thoughts and give yourself a chance.

You can do it. Focus on feeling proud of yourself afterwards for giving it your best shot in spite of all this panic. Plan a reward for afterwards.

Interview practice is as much about learning to manage the anxiety as anything else. So this would be brilliant experience for you.

Thank you @oneforthepain, that's s really kind message and obviously you are totally right, I know it and I'm still defiant.

I only have tomorrow to prepare due to my melt down today. Can a day be enough?

Interviewing in June for a job that starts in December (?!)

If nothing else, do it for the interview practice. It can take a few goes to switch gears and get your head back to it.

You might find thinking of it this way also takes the pressure off you and you will feel less nervous.

Put the stuff together as best you can, pull on your big girl undies and see how you go.

One day is plenty enough time. Please go for it, you wouldn't have been offered an interview if you weren't suitable for the role. I am also interviewing at the moment and understand how stressful it can be but if you don't try you won't know and you might regret not going.

You can do this

@lljkk the OP didn't say that the job starts in December. She said that her current job ends in December. My current job ends in March next year, but I'm free to look for a permanent position now if I choose to. Maybe that's what the OP is doing 🤷‍♀️

OP...good luck 💐

As someone who interviews regularly I can say we want you to do well. Internally I'm cheering candidates on. We get that people are nervous and understand.

Another vote for treating it like interview practice.

Oh, and that thing about have a terrible sense of being an imposter. It's a real thing, supposed to be even more prevalent amongst women than men, but I have yet to meet anyone decent who does not suffer at least a touch of it.

Look up imposter syndrome

How are you feeling op? What times your interview?

Hope it went or is going well

Any update?